PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gonzal Seitaridis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Seitaridis
vs
Cunningham

168 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
142 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gonzal Seitaridis!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sean Cunningham!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Seitaridis fails with the takedown.
Cunningham will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cunningham fails to land with a series of punches.

Seitaridis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Seitaridis showed some decent athleticism there.
Cunningham regains full guard. Nicely done.
Seitaridis looking to sit in guard and control but Cunningham gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Seitaridis is adopting a defensive guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cunningham trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Cunningham gets to his feet - Seitaridis follows without any prompting.

Seitaridis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Cunningham trying to control but Seitaridis postures up.
Seitaridis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Seitaridis knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cunningham on the ground.
Seitaridis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Seitaridis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Cunningham regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Seitaridis.
Seitaridis trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cunningham's guard.
Seitaridis trying to control but Cunningham is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cunningham pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Seitaridis tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cunningham is able to avoid easily.
Sean Cunningham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Seitaridis.

Seitaridis shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Seitaridis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cunningham is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Seitaridis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Seitaridis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Seitaridis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Seitaridis postures up in Cunningham's guard and throws a big left but Cunningham blocks it.
Seitaridis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cunningham preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seitaridis looking to sit in guard and control but Cunningham gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cunningham wants to control from the top but Seitaridis keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cunningham misses with a few strikes there.
Seitaridis fails with a takedown attempt.
Cunningham throws a sloppy head kick and Seitaridis moves out of range easily.
Cunningham looks gassed!
Cunningham stalks Seitaridis and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Seitaridis's face. Seitaridis staggers backwards, shaken.

Seitaridis shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Seitaridis was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cunningham avoids a series of strikes thrown by Seitaridis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gonzal Seitaridis dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cunningham slaps away a takedown attempt from Seitaridis, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Seitaridis blocks a head kick by Cunningham.
Seitaridis misses with a leg kick.
Cunningham scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
No joy there for Cunningham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cunningham throws a head kick but Seitaridis moves out of range.

Seitaridis shoots in and bounces Cunningham off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Seitaridis lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Seitaridis content to stall in guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seitaridis has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Seitaridis stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Seitaridis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Seitaridis has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Cunningham regains guard immediately.
Seitaridis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seitaridis stopping the sweep attempt from Cunningham.
Seitaridis postures up in Cunningham's guard and throws a big left but Cunningham blocks it.
Seitaridis wants to control from the top but Cunningham keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seitaridis tries to free his leg and advance position but Cunningham is retaining full guard.
Cunningham keeping moving, preventing Seitaridis from controlling successfully.
Seitaridis is really struggling to control Cunningham but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cunningham throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Seitaridis.
Seitaridis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cunningham pinned against the cage. Cunningham gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cunningham throws a head kick but Seitaridis moves out of range.
Cunningham goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Cunningham throws a head kick but Seitaridis moves out of range.

Seitaridis shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cunningham napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Seitaridis creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cunningham sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cunningham parries the strikes from Seitaridis easily there. Seitaridis is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Cunningham to escape.
Cunningham parries the strikes from Seitaridis easily there. Seitaridis is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Cunningham to escape.

Seitaridis stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Cunningham throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gonzal Seitaridis dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Seitaridis closes the distance and pushes Cunningham back into the cage.
Cunningham tries to pull guard but Seitaridis won't allow it.

Seitaridis breaks the clinch.
Seitaridis blocks a head kick by Cunningham.
Seitaridis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cunningham as he avoids it easily.
Cunningham throws a series of punches but Seitaridis avoids them all with ease.
Seitaridis shoots in but no luck this time.
Seitaridis fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gonzal Seitaridis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Seitaridis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cunningham swivels and escapes.
Cunningham rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Seitaridis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cunningham throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Cunningham pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Seitaridis avoids the head kick by Cunningham.
Seitaridis closes the distance and clinches up with Cunningham, looking for a takedown. Seitaridis pushes Cunningham against the cage but Cunningham circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Seitaridis delivers a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Cunningham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Seitaridis rushes Cunningham and presses him up against the cage.
Cunningham managing to block the knees to the body from Seitaridis.
Seitaridis putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cunningham in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Seitaridis fails to pull guard.
Cunningham tries to pull guard but Seitaridis won't allow it.
Seitaridis is trying to force a seperation but Cunningham has the dominant position.
Seitaridis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Seitaridis tries to land knees in the clinch but Cunningham avoids the damage to the body.
Seitaridis trying to land knees to the body.
Cunningham managing to block the knees to the body from Seitaridis.
Cunningham blocks a body shot from Seitaridis.
Cunningham tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Seitaridis just stands there and leans against the cage.
Seitaridis missing with knees to the body.
Cunningham tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Seitaridis just stands there and leans against the cage.
Seitaridis tries to circle away but Cunningham has him pinned against the cage.
Cunningham fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Seitaridis walks away with a smile on his face. Cunningham gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cunningham moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Cunningham works over Seitaridis's head and body with a nice combination.
Cunningham lands a jab-cross combination.

Seitaridis drives through with a takedown into guard.
Seitaridis is looking to work some ground and pound but Cunningham has wrist control.
Seitaridis preventing the sweep.
Seitaridis throws a big right hand that misses.
Seitaridis is looking to work some ground and pound but Cunningham has wrist control.
Gonzal Seitaridis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Seitaridis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cunningham works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Seitaridis has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Seitaridis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Seitaridis throwing strikes but missing.
Cunningham preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A nice leg kick lands there from Seitaridis.
Seitaridis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cunningham sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cunningham tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cunningham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Seitaridis.
Seitaridis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cunningham but Cunningham pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nice takedown defense from Cunningham. No joy for Seitaridis on that attempt.
Cunningham scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Seitaridis tries to land a front kick but Cunningham steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cunningham throws a sloppy head kick and Seitaridis moves out of range easily.
Cunningham misses with a jab, cross combination.

Seitaridis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from Seitaridis are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Seitaridis throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Seitaridis working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Gonzal Seitaridis did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cunningham throws a right hand that Seitaridis ducks under and follows up with a left that Seitaridis also avoids with ease.
Cunningham looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Seitaridis closes the distance and clinches.

Seitaridis breaks the clinch.
Seitaridis fails with a takedown attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cunningham!
A right-left combo lands from Cunningham.
Gonzal Seitaridis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Seitaridis.
Cunningham misses with a series of wild punches.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Seitaridis shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cunningham is trying to defend but Seitaridis finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Seitaridis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seitaridis looks to land a strike but Cunningham avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Cunningham has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Seitaridis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Seitaridis makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Seitaridis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cunningham is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cunningham throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Cunningham has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Seitaridis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Seitaridis trying to control but Cunningham is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seitaridis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cunningham fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cunningham throws a nice looking combination but Seitaridis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Seitaridis darts in and clinches Cunningham up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Seitaridis pulls guard successfully.
Cunningham preventing the sweep.
Cunningham wants to stand but Seitaridis has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Seitaridis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Seitaridis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Seitaridis is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cunningham is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Seitaridis wants to sweep here but Cunningham controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gonzal Seitaridis had his way with Sean Cunningham in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Seitaridis takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cunningham throws a nice looking combination but Seitaridis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Seitaridis closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cunningham did well to prevent Seitaridis getting side control.
Seitaridis with the ground and pound but Cunningham uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Cunningham keeping moving, preventing Seitaridis from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Seitaridis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Cunningham working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Seitaridis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Cunningham is tightening it up a little... Seitaridis has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Seitaridis reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Seitaridis taps out! nice BJJ there by Cunningham!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Sean Cunningham!
Sean Cunningham is the new featherweight champion!